Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Saad isn’t stressed about contract talks with Chicago

Chicago Blackhawks v Los Angeles Kings - Game Three

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 24: Brandon Saad #20 of the Chicago Blackhawks with the puck against Mike Richards #10 of the Los Angeles Kings in the first period in Game Three of the Western Conference Final during the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Staples Center on May 24, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Getty Images

As much as the near-league-wide jealousy of the Chicago Blackhawks come from watching elite talents like Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith, there’s also that contingent that winces at the fact that they have up-and-comers like Brandon Saad commanding less than an $800K cap hit.

Of course, Saad faces a golden opportunity to make much more than that. His current deal expires after the 2014-15 season. While that uncertainty could stand as stressful, he seems pretty easy-going about it, at least if he’s being honest to CSNChicago.com.

“Obviously it would be nice to get it done and have that out of the way, I guess, instead of focusing it on the year. But if it doesn’t happen there’s not much you can do. You play the season,” Saad said. “Hopefully it happens during the year and, if not, next summer. So we still have quite a bit of time to get it done, and we’ll see when it happens.”

Saad will turn 22 early next season (Oct. 27), so he’ll be a restricted free agent for some time, limiting some of his leverage as far as this next contract is concerned.

Even so, he could really drive up his value with a strong 2014-15 campaign. Saad scored 19 goals and 47 points in 78 games last season and was even more impressive in the postseason, collecting 16 points in 19 playoff games. If he can stick on a line with Patrick Kane - certainly a possibility after all the promise seen with a combo alongside Andrew Shaw - he could really enjoy a breakthrough year.

Really, Saad might be wise to play through the season. After all, even Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman admitted that “we haven’t seen the best” of what he could do.

Bowman must have conflicting feelings about this situation. Watching Saad progress could be a thrill, yet with dual $10.5 million cap hits kicking in for Kane and Toews beginning in 2015-16, a big hike from Saad may really smart.

Then again, maybe it’s best just to follow Saad’s lead: “All that stuff will take care of itself.”

Follow James O’Brien @cyclelikesedins